MTUC offers up proposals for 2014 budget

SHAH ALAM, Oct 15 — The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has put up three proposals for the people for consideration by the government in the 2014 Budget, including not implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

MTUC president Mohd Khalid Atan said the implementation of GST would impact the lower income group as they were already hit by spiralling costs of goods and services each year.

“Consumers will have to bear consumption tax if GST is implemented and it will certainly burden the lower income group even though the amount may be small,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar was reported as saying the government was still studying the GST to evaluate its impact on inflation, and the best method of implementation.

Meanwhile, Mohd Khalid said MTUC also hoped the 2014 Budget scheduled to be tabled on Oct 25, would consider giving RM300 cost of living allowance to private sector workers facing the hardship of rising prices of goods and services.

He also requested the government to raise the individual income tax relief in the 2014 Budget, as well as increase tax relief by RM1,000 for each child for those with families.

Mohd Khalid however, welcomed the proposal for a two-stage distribution of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid next year as a good approach to relieve the impact of inflation. — Bernama